Sivvi's Ruse MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	4
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Instant
Released	2000-02-14
Set symbol
Set name	Nemesis
Set code	NEM
Number	21
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Kev Walker

Key Takeaways

Sivvi’s Ruse provides instant speed control, protecting multiple creatures and catching opponents off-guard.
It helps in resource management by saving mana and preventing creature recasting.
The card requires a specific mana combination and includes a relatively high casting cost.

Text of card

If an opponent controls a mountain and you control a plains, you may play Sivvi's Ruse without paying its mana cost. Prevent all damage that would be dealt this turn to creatures you control.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Sivvi’s Ruse can potentially protect multiple creatures from a single spell, effectively negating your opponent’s attempts to diminish your board presence without losing card economy.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly increasing your resources, Sivvi’s Ruse can save your mana and creatures by preventing the need to recast them. This indirectly contributes to better resource management over the course of the game.

Instant Speed: As an instant, Sivvi’s Ruse can be deployed at the most opportune moment, often during an opponent’s turn. This allows you to surprise your opponent, making it a versatile tool for reacting to threats immediately as they appear.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Sivvi’s Ruse demands a card to be discarded upon casting. This could deplete your hand and reduce your ability to respond to future threats, especially if your deck isn’t designed for such a trade-off.

Specific Mana Cost: This card’s cost is pinned to a particular combination of mana types, requiring both white and red. For players running multi-colored decks, this could complicate mana base consistency and make the card less versatile for inclusion in various strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Despite the utility it provides, Sivvi’s Ruse comes with a higher-than-average mana cost for similar protective spells. This may render it suboptimal in fast-paced games where efficiency and speed are key to victory.

Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Sivvi’s Ruse offers a unique protective mechanism for your creatures, shielding them from damage and destruction that can turn the tide in a variety of matchups. Its flexibility stems from its ability to safeguard an entire tribe, specifically Rebels, which can support theme-based decks or those leveraging tribal synergies.

Combo Potential: In decks that revolve around Rebel creatures and mechanics, Sivvi’s Ruse can act as a combo-enabler by consistently saving your crucial creatures from harm. This ensures that your combos remain uninterrupted, solidifying the card as an integral piece in maintaining battlefield presence and advancing your strategy.

Meta-Relevance: Given the fluctuating nature of the MTG competitive scene, the element of surprise and disruption that Sivvi’s Ruse provides can be a boon against decks that rely heavily on damage-based removal. When timed correctly, the sudden shift in combat dynamics or thwarting high-stake plays makes Sivvi’s Ruse a card worth considering for metagames where combat tricks and instant-speed interactions dictate the pace of play.

How to Beat Sivvi’s Ruse

Understanding how to navigate against Sivvi’s Ruse can be key in games of MTG. This particular card offers a unique form of protection, especially for those running white spells or a Rebel-themed deck. It is designed to thwart damage from red or green sources, safeguarding not just your creatures but also your life total. However, circumventing this defiance is indeed possible.

One approach is to diversify your damage sources. Incorporate spells or abilities that deal non-red or non-green damage. Black spells, blue control elements, and white removal cards fall outside of Sivvi’s Ruse’s protective scope. Therefore, having a balanced color strategy in your deck can diminish the effectiveness of Sivvi’s Ruse. Additionally, look to utilize colorless damage sources, as this instant card offers no resistance against artifacts or eldritch monstrosities.

Furthermore, focusing on non-damage based removal, such as exile or bounce effects, can provide an edge. Sivvi’s Ruse cannot prevent such mechanics, rendering its protective qualities null against these strategies. Lastly, consider cards that restrict or counter your opponent’s instant spells. By keeping the pressure on these fronts, Sivvi’s Ruse becomes far less daunting, and you maintain control of the battlefield dynamics.

Cards like Sivvi's Ruse

Sivvi’s Ruse stands within a niche group of protective spells in Magic: The Gathering. It’s often lined up against cards like Rootborn Defenses, which also grants your creatures indestructibility. However, unlike Rootborn Defenses, Sivvi’s Ruse requires a specific condition related to the number of mountains you control, which limits its flexibility. Conversely, Rootborn Defenses serves a dual purpose by additionally populating the battlefield with tokens.

Another card in this spectrum is Make a Stand, which similarly grants indestructibility, but offers a slight power boost to your creatures. Make a Stand is more mana-efficient, yet it doesn’t provide the capability to counter damaging spells like Sivvi’s Ruse does when conditions are met. Finally, there’s Boros Charm, a versatile card granting various modes including indestructibility. While Boros Charm provides instant-speed protection like Sivvi’s Ruse, it’s the range of options that sets Boros Charm apart.

In evaluating these cards together, Sivvi’s Ruse has its unique merits, especially in a Red or Mountain-heavy deck where its full potential can be harnessed. It exemplifies strategic depth in protecting your board while countering specific threats.

Cards similar to Sivvi's Ruse by color, type and mana cost

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Sivvi's Ruse MTG card by a specific set like Nemesis, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Sivvi's Ruse and other MTG cards: